Traveling Nurse Information

Traveling nurses can work in different states within America as well as in different countries around the world. NursesRx, Access Nurse and Travel Nursing are organizations that make it easy for nurses to gain employment in a nonresidential state as well as overseas. If you decide that you want to work abroad as a nurse, it is important that you understand and remain current about international regulations, health alerts and medical developments in the area where you want to be employed.

Finding Jobs

• Jobs are available to registered and graduate nurses who have at least 12 months of clinical experience in critical, neonatal, pediatric, telemetry, surgical and mental health units. One of the best ways to find employment is to work through a traveling nurse agency such as Medical Solutions or Maxim Healthcare Services. Nurses With a Purpose hires nurses to travel internationally in response to emergencies and health care crisis conditions. You can also search for jobs independently at boards such as Jobs Abroad and CareerBuilder. However, you will be responsible for submitting immigration papers, applying for your visa, passport and required vaccinations. If you work through an agency, the agency will handle this and other required paperwork for you.

Pay

• Registered travel nurses can receive as much as $40 an hour while on assignment. Paychecks are dispersed via automatic deposit to your personal banking account. Some agencies offer sign-on and completion bonuses set at a maximum of $6,000. Referral bonuses are also available and typically are $500.

Housing

• Through agencies such as Traveling Nurse, Bridge Staffing and American Traveler, registered nurses and graduate nurses who have a minimum of 12 months of clinical experience can secure free temporary housing for themselves and family members after they sign a contract stating that they will work assignments through the agency. The housing is privately owned, is conveniently located to stores and eateries and can be with or without furniture. Premium appliances are included. Nurses who secure their own housing receive a housing allowance. Because a typical travel nurse works at as many as four locations each year, agencies have established relationships with temporary housing management offices and can secure an apartment or house for rent in short turnaround time.

Benefits

• Working as a traveling nurse helps you to continue your education. You will learn about and follow guidance established by overseas medical governing bodies such as the International Medical Health Organization, the African Medical and Research Foundation, Italy's Nurses of Emergency and Australia's Hadassah International Medical Relief Association. Traveling abroad provides you the opportunity to live in another state or country while you receive a regular salary. Additionally, organizations such as Travel Health Nurses Association and Travel Nursing offer relocation assistance to help you moving expenses or to secure domestic and overseas housing in advance of your arrival. Top agencies also give you tax-free reimbursement for interstate and international travel expenses. Free health, dental, life and 401(k) retirement accounts with a maximum annual contribution of $15,500 are also included.

Considerations

• Hawaii, Florida and California are a few stateside locations where you can work as a traveling nurse. Europe, Australia, Africa and Canada are a few of the international locations where you can be employed as a traveling nurse. If you travel outside the United States, as soon as possible you should contact the United States Department of State, so you can register with the department in the event of political unrest or an emergency. It is important that you have eight to 18 months of acute-care experience before you travel abroad. Typically domestic and international assignments last for as long as 13 to 26 weeks. Depending on the dominant language spoken in the area where you are going to work, it might prove helpful to take a basic course in that jurisdiction's primary language.